Hong Kong -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- CNN readers had a mixture of admiration and disdain for `` Bob , '' the anonymous U.S. programmer who outsourced his work to a Chinese firm for one-fifth of his paycheck .

The incident was investigated by Verizon after a client company noticed the firm 's computer system was regularly being accessed from China . Investigators found the employee had `` physically FedExed his RSA token to China so that the third-party contractor could log-in under his credentials during the workday , '' according to Andrew Valentine , a senior forensic investigator for Verizon .

`` This guy must have read the ` 4-Hour Workweek ' book . He was doing exactly what the book recommends , '' wrote one CNN reader , a sentiment echoed elsewhere .

`` Heard this on CNN this morning and thought the same exact thing -- he must be a Tim Ferriss fan ! '' wrote a reader identified as Sarah Avayou .

U.S. programmer outsources own job to China , surfs cat videos

Ferriss , however , is n't a fan of the tactics of `` Bob . ''

The author of the blockbuster time management book series -- which advocates personal outsourcing as part of his formula for earning more in less time -- said subterfuge and allowing someone unauthorized access to the company computers is not the way forward .

`` Productivity should benefit the collective , not put it at risk , '' Ferriss told CNN by e-mail . `` As much as I love cat photos , creating security breaches is n't a good career move . It 's also bad karma . ''

An average day for `` Bob '' included watching cat videos and logging into eBay and Facebook . He would then send an end-of-day report on the work he paid a company in Shenyang , China , to do for him .

`` The 4-Hour Workweek is about maximizing your per-hour output -- increasing personal effectiveness . It 's about creating abundance and not about screwing your employer , '' Ferriss said . `` This is why I work with some of the fastest growing start-ups in Silicon Valley -LRB- Evernote , Uber , etc. -RRB- : they want maximal leverage . ''

Is there a way `` Bob '' could have done this without jeopardizing his job ?

`` If you want to structure a remote-work agreement , voluntarily work several consecutive Saturdays and measure your output increases -LRB- e.g. deals closed , client hours booked , etc. -RRB- , '' Ferriss said . `` Use data and a logical argument to show your bosses that you can contribute more while being location-independent . ''

Ferriss also advises : `` If you want increased power and negotiating ability within your organization , increase your per-hour output . Focus on the 80/20 Rule : identifying the 20 % of activities -LRB- also products/services -RRB- that produce 80 % of the results you or your bosses want .

`` Track -LRB- or create -RRB- metrics that allow your supervisors to measure your performance improvements and contributions , '' he said .

Still , many readers admired the unknown -- and now unemployed -- programmer .

`` It reminds me of a quote from ` The Night Of The Generals ' that went something like ` What is admirable on a grand scale is abhorrent on a small scale ' , '' commented another CNN reader known as Davidji , referring to the 1967 movie about a Nazi murder investigation during World War II . `` CEO 's do this every day and they get stock options and their picture on Forbes front cover . ''

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Strong reader reaction to story U.S. programmer personally outsourced work to China

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Readers cited `` The 4-Hour Workweek , ' which advocates outsourcing individual work

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Author Tim Ferriss tells CNN that `` Bob '' went wrong by breaching company security

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Ferriss : `` Creating security breaches is n't a good career move . It 's also bad karma . ''